# imprecisely

**Pronunciation:** /ɪmprɪˈsaɪsli/ · im-pri-SAIS-lee

**CEFR level:** C1

**Part of speech:** adverb

## Meaning

In a way that is not exact, accurate, or clearly defined.

## Examples

- The witness described the suspect's height imprecisely, making it difficult for the police to create a sketch.
- She tried to explain the complex theory, but her words conveyed the concept somewhat imprecisely.
- Because the data was collected imprecisely, the scientific conclusions drawn from it were unreliable.

## Synonyms

- vaguely — Suggests a lack of clarity or detail, often intentional or due to forgetfulness.
- loosely — Implies a general approximation rather than strict adherence to facts or rules.
- inexactly — Directly states a lack of exactness, often used in technical or scientific contexts.
- ambiguously — Refers to something having more than one possible meaning, causing confusion.

## Antonyms

- precisely — With exactness and accuracy.
- accurately — Correctly and without error.
- exactly — In an exact manner; without approximation.

## Common patterns

- describe imprecisely — To give a description that lacks exact details. — He tried to describe the events imprecisely, hoping to avoid blame.
- measure imprecisely — To take measurements that are not accurate. — The old scale measured weight imprecisely, leading to inconsistent results.
- define imprecisely — To explain something without clear or exact boundaries. — The contract defined the terms imprecisely, causing future disputes.

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